Ball of Confusion

 Although many Americans watch the presidential conventions, a significant number find them boring. This year's experience is very different, and it may be the beginning of a new set of trends. Political conventions and the stuffiness of backroom deals and cigar smoke may become historical legend. For a host of reasons, the 2020 election season is must watch television. The campaign started the day after the 2016 election and it has never ended. Although an endless campaign should be boring, this one has daily twists and turns. It flows like a soap opera because it is one. We are living in Donald Trump's world. We are being fed his views and notions of America and his abrupt ways of governing are causing national headaches, joys and depressions. And it may be ironic that the convention season is assuming aspects of his personality.

Almost instantly, President Trump developed a new campaign slogan ("Keeping America Great") and prepared to fight an unknown challenger. He has been preparing for the 2020 convention for more than three years. The COVID-19 pandemic has only slightly changed his thoughts. In contrast, the Democrats had a highly contested campaign before mysteriously fusing a unity ticket around Joe Biden. The pandemic has also changed the Democratic convention, but in far greater ways. 

Joe Biden's Democrats created a virtual convention, quietly abandoning going to Milwaukee. Trump's Republicans were destined for Charlotte then decided on a large COVID-restriction free venue in Florida, and, then due to outbreaks, back to Charlotte for a smaller delegate conference. With the help of producers from his former television show, President Trump has orchestrated a vague mixture of convention-like speeches, some live and others recorded, that flow like long personal testimonies or commercials. There are selected settings for this convention with very little taking place in Charlotte. Most of the speeches will be held in Washington, D.C. with a vice presidential keynote speech at Fort McHenry and a presidential speech at the White House. 

Both conventions offer very different and contrasting views of America. In fact they are opposing views of an American future. 

These are not your parents or grandparents conventions. They are faster paced with lots of voices. Unfortunately, if you are in the opposition party or even an independent, watching these Democratic and Republican Conventions should be a frightening experience. You can see the divisions of people and ideas on a variety of subjects from healthcare to taxes. What the parties historically stood for is dissolving into a Trumpian and anti-Trumpian contest. We are debating American history through the gaze of one person. 

Once again, Donald Trump has sucked all of the air out of the room. It has become all about him and the focus is on "Trump, the devil" or "Trump, the savior". This is not what American politics is about. Our nation has always been about the collective spirit not an individual. At such a critical time, the debate should be about what ideas we are sharing to save the American experiment. That we are seeing this election as a referendum on the "Trump coronation" suggests that all is already lost. 

Political speeches usually portray incomplete truths, but these reveal the gaps between reality and fiction. It is not enough to say that our politicians are lying, but rather to say that they are not being honest. In contrast to what is being said, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden are single-handedly going to destroy America. They need a lot of help to do this. And this is why the members of Congress are important. It is their actions or inaction that allows for change or stagnation. Party platforms offer indications of what parties are going to do and usually in hearing platforms, voters have some indication of the future. This time the Democratic platform is fuzzy and the Republican one is non-existent.

Each party has significant shortcomings and as Americans we should demand more from our government and the people we elect to serve us.

Comments

Jack said…
I agree with “ This is not what American politics is about. Our nation has always been about the collective spirit not an individual. At such a critical time, the debate should be about what ideas we are sharing to save the American experiment.” and your last statement. Why have we, all of us living in America, allowed such contemptible behavior?
October 5, 2020 at 4:58 PM
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